Leasedrive Velo Blog

Roddy Graham, Commercial Director

Well Jenson Button may not have won the British Grand Prix but the event certainly was a winner.

In more ways than one. Not only was the Northamptonshire former-airfield circuit packed to the rafters for its final curtain call but it seems that if Donington Park is not ready in 2010 Silverstone will, as the home of British motor racing, once more host one of the classic events on the F1 calendar.

So the British fans came out as winners too as they are now assured of an event for the foreseeable future, not something we could have said even a week ago.

I was overwhelmed by the whole weekend as I was a privileged guest of BMW and received a wonderful inside track into modern-day Formula One.

I was simply staggered at the level of technology now deployed in the sport, something you cannot really grasp while sitting in front of the television. Examples include the banks of computer screens inside a transporter mirroring those in the pits. You just don’t see those as a TV viewer. Nor do you appreciate that there is not only communications between car and pits but between the back of the garages and the team base in Hinwil to an identical car, simulating potential scenarios as the race develops.

Staggering really, the computer and brain power behind a current F1 team.

As you know, it was not BMW Sauber’s weekend. When we wished Kubica and Heidfeld luck the response was the same.

“Thanks, but we don’t really need it as we won’t feature in the race.”

Philosophical but true!

Both struggled with ill-handling cars. Heidfeld was supreme however in successfully defending his position against former World Champion Alonso, despite a damaged front spoiler.

When requested to come into the pits to replace his nosecone, his response was matter fact, “No, I’m staying out.”

What actually struck me throughout the weekend was the actual camaraderie among the drivers, many of whom we bumped into on more than one occasion throughout the weekend. The only exceptions were the McLaren drivers, neither of whom we came across.

Interesting too, the hierarchical layout of the paddock with the FIA at the top end following by the current F1 champions McLaren and so on in championship order from the previous year. At the far end, almost in a field, were newcomers Brawn, current leaders in the championship. BMW’s hospitality centre is transported around in four huge trailers, McLaren’s in 12!

Literal footnote to the weekend, while idly chatting to Kubica and Heidfeld some 45 minutes before the start, I stepped back on somebody’s foot. I immediately turned around, apologising at the same time, only to find it was poor Button on whose toes I has just trodden.

He simply said, “What makes it worse is that you sound just like David Coulthard!”

Maybe it’s down to me he only finished sixth!

Roddy Graham, Commercial Director

Might we be making small inroads into an integrated transport policy? If not driven by Government, at least by outside interested parties?

Heartening news this week was the announcement by the Association of Train Operating Companies that they may build up to 40 new railway stations and introduce 14 new lines at a cost of £500m. If given the go-ahead by local and regional government, Network Rail and the Department for Transport, this expansion could serve an extra one million passengers, freeing up our already clogged up roads. Indeed, seven new park and ride stations have also been identified, which would help the situation further.

Back in 1963, Beeching closed 2000 railway stations and cut out more than 4000 route miles of our much envied rail network, slashing it by a third! If ever there was a hatchet man, then it was he.

A further 2000 route miles were lost by the end of the decade. However, much of the infrastructure of the old lines remains in place. And some freight lines could also be converted for commercial use. In total, it would take some five to 10 years for the additional stations and lines to be opened.

Last year, more passengers travelled by train than at any other time since the Second World War. And, more significantly, 30% more passengers were carried than in 1963, when Beeching wielded his axe.

According to ATOC there are nine towns with populations over 15,000 who would benefit from a rail connection, with a cost/benefit ratio of 1:1.5, the Government’s benchmark for considering investment.

Beeching precipitated the move from public to private transport, at the same time sounding the death knell for many parts of the rail network, which were previously profitable. The end result is all around us, with massive congestion, more motorways, more by-passes and pitiful road surfaces.

Had we maintained much of the rail network of the past, then surely we would have come much closer to a fully integrated road transport policy.

As it is, ATOC has opened the debate. For comparatively little investment our rail network could carry a further one million passengers while stimulating local economic re-generation. Green jobs would be created and even greener transport solutions. At the same time, it would encourage more people to consider switching to rail transport.

In the creation of possibly seven new park and ride stations we have a pointer to how we may more commonly travel in the future. A small city car linked to other modes of transport.

Roddy Graham, Commercial Director

Car share schemes and car clubs have been much in the news recently, all positive stuff too. As regular readers of my blog will know, these subjects are close to my heart.

When at Budget Rent a Car not only did I introduce both but, in the case of car clubs, the Edinburgh City Car Club was the first commercial car club launched in the UK.

This new initiative not only made the headlines but won a major environmental award. Clearly innovation and good ideas can sometimes take quite a while to gather momentum – I launched the City Car Club in 1999 – 10 years ago!

News in this week is that Luton Airport is extending its staff car share scheme to include passengers. Precise details on how this will work are sketchy to say the least as there is no formal announcement yet by either Luton Airport or liftshare.com, the operators of the scheme.

Knowing my luck, details will be posted on their websites by the time this blog is posted!

Meanwhile, car club numbers have doubled from a membership total of 32,000 members in 2007 to 64,000 by the end of last year.

Although small beer, at least it’s progress in the right direction. And neither is membership confined to private individuals, companies are getting in on the act too.

As an alternative to pool car schemes for the latter, or as an alternative to private vehicle ownership for the former for those living in towns and cities with good public transport infrastructures, the appeal is considerable.

The latest statistics were compiled by our neighbours here in Wokingham, TRL, on behalf of a national charity supporting the development of car clubs, Carplus.

One interesting nugget of information coming out of the TRL report is that 39% of those surveyed advised that they had lowered their carbon footprint as a result of car club membership, by reducing the number of vehicles operated and presumably by running around in smaller, more fuel efficient and lower polluting vehicles.

Several car clubs have reported increased interest from companies with one expected to have a 50:50 split between corporate and individual membership by the end of 2010.

As a flexible, hassle-free alternative to pool car sharing, car clubs make eminent sense.

Many still deride car clubs but they are definitely part of our future transport infrastructure. Make no mistake, “tall oaks from little acorns grow”.

Roddy Graham, Commercial Director

All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. Sound familiar? That most famous Orwellian quotation could be equally applied to all those fat pigs eating from the ‘expenses’ trough at Westminster. ‘Expensesgate’ runs and runs and the more you delve into the expenses’ accounts of MPs, the more horrified you become.

It started with porn rental videos claimed for by the Home Secretary and quickly degenerated into far worse with Conservative gentry claiming for moat cleaning, horse manure and duck pond islands. Indeed there have been some quite outrageous claims including a £1 charity donation, wreaths for Remembrance Sunday, £8500 B&O television sets and iPods.

At a time of economic constraint and belt-tightening the pigs at the trough claimed a total of £92,993,748, an average of £143,953 each in expenses, over double the average salary of an MP at £63,291. Among the 646 elected members of Parliament, some have now fallen on their sword, some have tried vainly fighting back to eventually succumb to the inevitable conclusion that they do not stand a ‘cat in hell’s chance’ of seeking re-election and others undoubtedly quake at the prospect of further revelations.

Today, we go to the polls, some of us to vote for our Euro MP, others to vote both for their Euro MP and local councilors. Let the ballot box be the first public statement of our total dissatisfaction with the fat pigs eating from the trough. All animals are equal but some are more equal than others. That will always hold true but neither we, the general public, nor good old honest MPs (yes, there are still a few) like to be taken for a ride.